Nationwide ignorance of Illinois politics (Obama/Blago)

[HardWorkingDem]

Being from Illinois, one of the most fascinating things about the Blagojevich scandal is the utter lack of national ignorance when it comes to internal Illinois politics. It really shows how bad our political pundits are when it comes to local politics as well.

Almost anyone in our state who follows politics just a bit knows that Blago is on an island almost by himself when it comes to his relationship with other Democrats in Illinois.

You'd think that it would be immediately seen when a pundit finds out that some time ago Democrats in the Illinois state house were kicking around the idea of impeaching Blagojevich.

Is other national coverage of state politics as bad as its been in Illinois?

[mucifer]

1. I totally agree. And in Chicago (not IL in general) the word democrat has a

very different meaning. Everyone is a democrat. You have to look closer than the d word to figure out where they stand on the issues.

[ikojo]

2. IL is a blue state primarily due to

Chicago. I grew up in Springfield and it's Repug town. There was a lot of resentment when Blagojevich refused to live full time in the Governor's mansion in Springfield.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Chicago is important but don't discount Egypt

(Southern Illinois), where Jackson County was the only county that went blue in 1980, if memory serves. Still very blue in Egypt. It's Central Illinois where it has traditionally been red since 1856 or so, though I've heard since my departure from the state in 1989 things have changed a bit even there.

[Peregrine Took]

3. So true. I'm from Il, also, and the political situation is way more complicated

than the pinhead media portrays.

There is only one party here - the long entrenched "power" party of which both veteran rethugs and Dems are members.

Blago, like Dan Walker before him, was an outsider and they (the good ole boys) will never help or cooperate with someone who isn't a member of their clique.

If you don't succumb to their wishes they will definitely take you down.

[mucifer]

4. That's why it's great to watch Rachel Maddow. She does her research locally for each

story she goes to the local papers and it is apparent in the quality of her program.

[Book Lover]

6. Yes - witness all the non-NYers who want Caroline as our Senator

What news sources, etc, would you recommend to someone like myself who knows only the surface of Illinois politics?

[mucifer]

7. you could start with

www.chicagotribune.com

www.suntimes.com

http://www.chicagoreader.com/ that one is more liberal a free weekly paper.

http://www.chicagodefender.com/ African American newspaper

[Book Lover]

10. Many thanks! n/t

[Samantha]

8. It is a good thing you posted this

Heard on the McLaughlin Group the most underreported story of 2008 was Obama's relationship to Rezko, who served as a middle man (conduit if you will) between Obama and Blago. People here need to keep setting the story straight. (I think Pat Buchanan said that, but I can't say that for sure it was he, but the statement was definitely made on McLaughlin.)

Sam

[kevsand]

9. It's been driving me crazy.

Most of what I post on here anymore is putting out the fires from someone who has no clue speculating in a total vacuum of knowledge on how Blago is being set up by Rove and the big, bad, partisan Fitz.

We should have expected it. I'd been trying to tell people here for years that they were underestimating Obama or completely misreading the Rezko stuff.

Unless you live here, you really have no idea about the depth and breadth and craziness and wonder of Illinois politics.

[HardWorkingDem]

11. Another thing that is really sad...

is this is another story where if you just pay half attention, then it should be clear.

For example, how in the world can anyone not pick up on this when the governor from the same state as the presidential nominee does not even get an invite to the Democratic Convention? Also, if my memory serves me right, I can't even recall any sort of publicity pictures from when Obama announced his decision to run for president (but I could be wrong). I don't even know if Blagojevich was in Springfield that day.

This stuff has been going on since Blagojevich was elected.

One last thing is that Blagojevich has been our first Democratic Governor in some time, so if one Dem is immensely disliked by other Democrats, what should that tell the casual observer?

[trueprog]

12. Oh, come now.

Just because he came up for impeachment doesn't mean he is on his own corrupt little island, not infecting those around him. I think you know this is true, and you are kidding yourself (or us) a tiny bit. If you are from Chicago then you are fully aware of the web of connections between Obama, Rezko, Miceli, Blagojevich, Emanuel, Jarrett, Ayers, Dohrn, Khalidi, Katz, Wright, Rathke, etc. etc. etc., and the inbred nature of this scene.

[HardWorkingDem]

13. Your reply doesn't even deserve an answer...

nope, not at all....

[Blarch]

14. You forgot the ...

Obama / Capone link.
http://bp3.blogger.com/_9Gsu_hMGnVk/R5Q685F6cOI/AAAAAAAACFo/jh-DywXr4Bs/s320/al+capone.JPG

[davsand]

15. I'm pretty sure they all know where this guy is:

[Blarch]

16. nice.

:rofl: